Capitol Alert: Are legislative-related ballot designations the kiss of death?

As we reported in today's Bee, a handful of legislators running for other offices are leaning on second occupations in drafting their ballot designations.

That move makes sense, consultants say, considering voters' ongoing thumbs-down appraisal of the Legislature's job performance.

But does all the swapping and second job listing make a difference?

Absolutely, says GOP Assemblyman and U.S. Senate candidate Chuck DeVore.

DeVore told The Bee today that his lagging public poll numbers are, in part, because respondents to those surveys are presented with only his legislative title.

"They called me a 'California state assemblyman' (in the poll questions) which, according to our internal polling, cuts my support in half," said DeVore, who has submitted "assemblyman/military reservist" as his ballot designation.

So it's no wonder lawmakers who previously embraced their titles are now touting their other bona fides on the ballot. See some examples of ballot designation shifting over the past few cycles after the jump.

Democratic Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, who is running for state Senate, has proposed using "Doctor of Optometry" as his ballot designation. The Assembly Democrat just two years ago presented himself as an "Assemblymember/Optometrist " on the ballot.

Sen. Sam Aanestad, a "Doctor/California Senator" to Californians casting a vote in the Republican lieutenant governor primary, was the slightly more descriptive "Senator/Oral Surgeon" when he last ran for his seat in 2006.

This year's superintendent of public instruction candidate Tom Torlakson was a "Senator/Teacher" in 2008 but is a "Teacher/California Legislator." AG hopeful and ""Military Prosecutor/Lawmaker" Ted Lieu also swapped his titles in his Assembly re-election race, telling voters he was an "Assemblymember/Military Prosecutor."

Two of their rivals, candidate for schools chief Gloria Romero and AG wannabee Pedro Nava, didn't list their second jobs of "educator" and "attorney" in their last elections, stating "California State Senator" and "Member of the State Assembly, 35th District" respectively.